WEBVTT
EUGENE BOWERS HAD ONE
GRAND-CHILD.
>> WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
I MISS HER A LOT.
GEORGE: HE WAS IN COURT FOR THE
WHOLE TRIAL, THE FIRST TWO
TEENAGERS -- SUSPECTS IN THEIR
EARLY 20'S ALREADY PLEADED
GUILTY.
TONIGHTRIVERS WAS FOUND NOT
GUILTY OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER AND
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER
>> WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE
JURORS DECIDE.
THOSE PRIMUS, WE HAVE TO ACCEPT
THAT.
GEORGE: HIS GRAND-DAUGHTER HAD A
CRUSH ON RIVERS.
PROSECUTORS ARGUED RIVERS USED
HER AFFECTION BY HAVING SEX WITH
HER IN HER GRANDMOTHER'S HOME TO
DISTRACT BOWERS WHILE DIXON AND
CHILDS RANSACKED THE HOME FOR
I-PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES.
BOWERS CAUGHT THEM IN THE ACT.
MINUTES LATER, CHILDS BEAT HER
WITH A MEAT TENDERIZER,
STRANGLED HER, RAPED HER AND
THEN SET HER ON FIRE.
PROSECUTORS SAY RIVERS WAS A
WILLING PARTICIPANT.
BUT THE DEFENSE ARGUED RIVERS,
14 AT THE TIME, WAS TOO SCARED
OF HIS OLDER FRIENDS TO STOP
THEM.
RIVERS IS ALSO NOT GUILTY OF
FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY AND
ARSON, BUT THE JURY SAID IT
COULD NOT AGREE ON A VERDICT FOR
SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND OTHER
LESSER CHARGES.
FOR EUGENE BOWERS AND HIS FAMILY
TONIGHT'S PARTIAL VERDICT
DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE
GRAND-DAUGHTER THAT MADE THEIR
LIVES FULL.
SHE WAS, SHE WAS JUST A GREAT
CHILD.
GEORGE: TONIGHT THE CITY STATE
ATTORNEYS SAYS, WHILE IT IS
EXTREMELY TROUBLING THAT THE
FAMILY OF ARNESHA BOWERS DID NOT
RECEIVE CLOSURE TODAY, WE WILL
CONTINUE OUR PURSUIT OF JUSTICE
FOR THIS INNOCENT YOUNG WOMAN.
ON MONDAY THERE IS A HEARING TO
DEAL WITH THE COUNTS WHERE THE

The jury did not find Rivers guilty of anything, but the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office has indicated it is not giving up.

Rivers was found not guilty of premeditated murder, first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree burglary and arson, but the jury said it could not agree on a verdict for second-degree murder and other lesser charges.

So far, this case is not closed.

Bowers was Eugene Bowers' only grandchild. He was in court for the entire trial.

"She and I were very close, and I miss her a lot," Eugene Bowers said. "We live in a society where jurors decide fates, and pretty much, we have to accept that."

Arnesha Bowers had a crush on Rivers. Prosecutors argued that Rivers used her affection by having sex with her in her grandmother's home to distract her while co-defendants John Childs and Adonay Dixon ransacked the home for iPhones and other devices.

Bowers caught them in the act, and minutes later, Childs beat her with a meat tenderizer, strangled her, raped her and then set her on fire.

Childs and Dixon both pleaded guilty, and Dixon testified against Rivers.

Prosecutors said Rivers was a willing participant, but the defense argued Rivers, who was 14 at the time, was too scared of his older friends to stop them.

For Eugene Bowers and his family, the partial verdict doesn't take away the granddaughter that made their lives full.

"She was just a great child," he said.

The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office released a statement, saying, "While it is extremely troubling that the family of Arnesha Bowers did not receive closure today, we will continue our pursuit of justice for this innocent young woman. We offer our deepest condolences to Arnesha’s loved ones and will continue to offer our services and support."

The parties will reconvene Monday to deal with the outstanding counts, potentially setting dates for another trial.